Alabama

David Blair, at podium, outlines his accusations against state Sen. Paul Sanford at a Friday morning news conference in the old Times Building. Blair and Sanford meet in Tuesday's Republican primary election. (Steve Doyle | sdoyle@al.com)

I think it's a misunderstanding on (Blair's) part of what the law actually says.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - State Sen. Paul Sanford's Republican primary opponent is accusing Sanford of multiple campaign finance law violations and taking money from a PAC with Democratic Party ties.

David Blair held a Friday morning news conference in downtown Huntsville to outline his claims that Sanford wrongly used campaign donations to buy business suits and pay for lodging while in Montgomery. Blair also produced campaign finance records that he says prove Sanford raised money outside the allowable time frame and profited nearly $300 from a campaign loan.

Sanford, who is seeking re-election to a second term, called Blair's accusations "a move of desperation to try to muddy the water and misinform voters" on the eve of the GOP primary, which is Tuesday.

In a Friday morning interview, Sanford acknowledged using about $2,400 in campaign funds to pay for lodging in Montgomery during the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions. He said he generally stays in a FEMA trailer at an RV park. Records also show that Sanford used $735.10 from his campaign to buy suits, dress shirts and ties at JOS Bank on Jan. 3, 2012.

Sanford said he believes all those expenses are allowed because they are directly related to the performance of his Senate duties.

"You can use funds in the direct performance of your duties," he said, "and me having to wear a coat and tie inside the Senate chamber is a mandate. I think it's a misunderstanding on (Blair's) part of what the law actually says.

"If I'm mistaken and it's wrong," said Sanford, " I'm more than happy to pay it back."

Sanford, who owns Little Paul's Barbecue on Madison Street, said T-shirts and blue jeans are his normal attire outside of Montgomery.

Sanford and Blair, president of the Huntsville school board, are competing for the Senate District 7 seat covering most of the Huntsville city limits plus the Hazel Green, Meridianville and Moores Mill areas.

Blair provided copies of Sanford election filings that show he loaned his 2010 Senate campaign a total of $7,823.15 but later paid himself back $8,105.19. Sanford "profited from campaign funds in the amount of $282.04," said Blair.

The senator accepted a $1,000 campaign donation from Franklin PAC on Nov. 29, 2010. Blair said Franklin PAC's donors during that time included the State Democratic Executive Committee, Alabama Democratic Party and House Democratic Caucus PAC.

He also said candidates like Sanford with surplus campaign cash are not allowed to continue raising money after an election.

Sanford said Franklin PAC's donors include many "great businesses" that he has come to know in his role as chairman of the Senate Job Creation and Economic Development Committee.

Blair said he discovered the possible campaign finance violations about three months ago and consulted with an attorney before releasing the information Friday morning.

"Whether I brought this up three months ago ... today or tomorrow, it's always going to be given the dismissive answer of, 'Well, it's politically motivated,'" said Blair. "Don't allow the dismissive answer that this is just politically motivated.